Summary:
The 78570 zip code area in Texas is home to 13 schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school grades, spread across two school districts - Mercedes Independent School District (ISD) and South Texas Independent School District (ISD). While the majority of schools in this area struggle with low academic performance and high rates of economically disadvantaged students, two standout public magnet high schools - South Texas Independent School District (ISD) Science Academy and South Texas Independent School District (ISD) Health Professions - excel with exceptional test scores, high graduation rates, and low dropout rates.
The South Texas Independent School District (ISD) magnet schools significantly outperform the state and district averages on STAAR end-of-course exams, with proficiency rates as high as 89% in Biology and over 90% in English I/II Reading and U.S. History. In contrast, Mercedes High School and Mercedes Academic Academy struggle with low proficiency rates, often falling well below the district and state averages. The middle schools in the Mercedes ISD, such as Sgt Manuel Chacon Middle and Sgt William G Harrell Middle, also face challenges with low test scores, particularly in mathematics.
The data suggests that the stark contrast in performance between the South Texas Independent School District (ISD) magnet schools and the Mercedes ISD schools may be linked to factors such as higher spending per student, lower student-teacher ratios, and lower rates of economically disadvantaged students at the magnet schools. While the majority of schools in the 78570 zip code area serve a high percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, the South Texas ISD magnet schools have the lowest rates at 43.52% and 60.66%, respectively. These insights highlight the significant disparities in academic resources and outcomes within the schools in this area.
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